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Laura Figi

Senior Newsletter Editor

Laura Figi has called Austin home for more than 12 years and has been known to say it’s her “favorite city in the world.” A proud graduate of Texas State University, she’s been working in local news since 2020. When she’s not working and learning about the community, you can find her at the local thrift shop, spending time with her two cats, or listening to live music.

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Runners pass by a small green building with a large red circular sign that reads "Jo's" at the top. The building has a red stripe along the roofline and is located at the corner of South Congress Avenue. A small crowd of people stands on the sidewalk, watching and cheering the runners as they go by. In the background, there are trees with bare branches and a street sign indicating Congress Avenue.
Wellness
Run clubs for every day of the week in Austin
Make friends and move your body — we found a club in Austin for any day your schedule is open.
November 6, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Three dishes on the table at KGBBQ
Food
Yelp’s list of the best 25 restaurants in Austin is here — try our favorites
Austinites know how to eat, and Yelp’s most dedicated members helped curate a list of the best and most reliable spots to get a meal.
November 6, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_AustinFoodandWine2025
Events
Best bites + bevs: Your guide to Austin Food & Wine Festival 2025
Austin Food & Wine Festival is this weekend and we’re ready to dig in by helping you maximize your time at this annual celebration of eats.
November 5, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
An overhead view of a Thanksgiving table spread.
Food
Help us create a reader-submitted Thanksgiving recipe book
You could help make a lot of Austinites thankful by sharing your best holiday recipes.
November 4, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
McConaughey in a black suit and white shirt stands amid a crowd at a formal event, gazing slightly off-camera. In the foreground, an Oscar statue is visible on the left, indicating the setting is likely an awards ceremony. People in the background appear dressed in formal attire, contributing to the celebratory atmosphere.
Culture
56 facts about Matthew McConaughey for his 56th birthday
Celebrate the local legend by learning dozens of facts about his life.
November 3, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A graphic that says "Their perfect gift is on this list. Our holiday gift guide just dropped." surrounded by images of gift tags.
Small Businesses
ATXtoday’s 2025 holiday gift guide: 90+ finds for everyone you love
Including gifts for significant others, retirees, holiday parties, young people, and gifts that ship fast.
October 29, 2025
 · 
Emily Shea-Owen
A unique culinary creation with an artistic presentation. A small, round base, possibly a bread or pastry, is topped with a creamy, lightly toasted layer of sauce or cheese. Skewered on top are succulent, charred pieces of meat or mushroom, stacked and crowned with a tiny figurine of a skull in a top hat. The background is softly blurred, with hints of other elegantly plated dishes.
Food
A complete list of Austin’s MICHELIN Guide restaurants
Let’s dig into the delicious picks, including seven stars, 16 local Bib Gourmand Awards, and a handful of MICHELIN-recommended spots for the MICHELIN Guide Texas.
October 29, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
A crowd of runners passing under a banner for the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot
Events
Plan Ahead: Don’t miss these events happening in Austin
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
October 29, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
The back of a Spanish-style home and curvy pool.
Real Estate
Austin is the top buyer’s market for homes in the US
Austin’s housing market has been a roller coaster ride for the last five years, but this time, it’s swinging back in favor of buyers.
October 23, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A person grilling food
Food
Which ATX food festival is right for you?
Austin’s plethora of delightful food festivals offer something for everyone, so only one question remains: Which should you attend first?
October 22, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Rebecca Wright holds her chore coat, a green and white coat made from a vintage quilt, to her left.
Business
Keep Austin local: A growing guide to reader-recommended small businesses
Help us create a growing guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local makers, restaurants, and professionals, and sharing this page with a friend.
October 21, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
The front of Austin's downtown City Hall
City
Election season: What Prop Q means for Austin taxpayers
The City of Austin is asking residents to vote on a property tax increase that would generate ~$109.5 million to go toward the new fiscal year budget.
October 20, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_YMCATownlake
Real Estate
Townlake YMCA to undergo redevelopment and housing project
The Downtown community center has agreed to sell some of its land for new housing while expanding and building a new facility.
October 20, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A view of the COTA tower and race track.
Events
Watch the Formula 1 US Grand Prix at these local watch parties
The big race is almost here, and even if you don’t have tickets to watch in person, you can catch the race in style at one of these admission-free parties.
October 16, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_GreatAmericanBeerFestival
Food
How to taste the best local beers of 2025
The 2025 Great American Beer Festival awards are here and Austin-area brews took home the gold, so get ready to taste them for yourself.
October 16, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A small outdoor micro gallery painted light blue with a clear acrylic roof. Inside, miniature colorful artworks are displayed, including illustrations and paintings, with one piece propped on a tiny easel. The setting features greenery and a residential background.
Culture
How to find a Free Little Art Gallery near you
At these 10 miniature art galleries in the Austin area, you can take a piece of art or leave one for your neighbors to love.
October 15, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_SpiritHalloween
Culture
8 Spirit Halloween stores open in the Austin area
The store finds vacant retail spaces and signs temporary leases to set up shop leading up to Halloween — but locations can change each year.
October 14, 2025
 · 
Michael Beausoleil
ATX_Cheer up charlie
Culture
Cheer Up Charlies acquired by Florida hospitality group
The LGBTQ+ bar, which was in danger of closing earlier this year, is now poised to become a larger brand across the state.
October 14, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A nighttime scene featuring a pathway lined with glowing jack-o'-lanterns hanging from trees. The lanterns illuminate the dark forest, casting an eerie yet enchanting atmosphere. A group of silhouetted people, including adults and children, walk toward the glowing lights, with mist rising in the background, enhancing the haunting, Halloween-like setting.
Events
16 Halloween happenings to check out in Austin
Themed cocktails, mad science experiments, haunted houses, and pumpkin carving await you throughout the whole month in Austin.
October 13, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A large crowd browses tables stacked with books under a white event tent. People of various ages flip through pages, chat, and examine titles. The tables are neatly arranged with colorful book covers, and the atmosphere is lively and bustling.
Events
Matthew McConaughey, R.L. Stine, and Chelsea Handler will headline the 2025 Texas Book Festival
The annual free book festival shared the full lineup of 300+ authors, here are a few we’re most excited to hear from in November.
October 9, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_ACLAtmosphere
Events
ACL Festival tips from a veteran attendee
Don’t go into Weekend Two of ACL Festival blind, but do go in with these tried-and-true tips from someone who has been attending for years.
October 9, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_SkipjackOyster
Food
Raw bar + seafood restaurant Skipjack Oyster is now open in Downtown Austin
The upscale restaurant is a great place to bring folks you want to impress, or just a grab a drink and some fresh-caught oysters.
October 8, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_AsleepattheWheelQA
Culture
‘It’s a great honor': How Asleep at the Wheel became ACL Festival’s annual opening act
Austin-based legacy band Asleep at the Wheel is the only band to have played every single ACL Festival since the event began in 2002.
October 7, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Sabrina Carpenter in a sparkly dress walking through the ACL crowd, reaching out to greet fans as people extend their hands and take photos with phones, with stage lights and security staff visible in the background.
Culture
ACL Festival weekend one headlines you may have missed
Whether you attended the festival or not, we’re looking back at some of the most newsworthy moments that transpired during the first half of the festival.
October 6, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Aerial view of a music festival with groups of people gathered on a grassy field, sitting or walking among tall, colorful flags featuring various abstract designs, during golden hour lighting.
Events
How to enjoy ACL 2025 without going to the festival
No wristband? No problem. There are still plenty of ways to enjoy festival season without shelling out for a ticket.
October 2, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A vibrant brunch spread displayed on a wooden table, featuring dishes like blueberry pancakes with bacon and eggs, smoked salmon with toast, granola with fresh fruit, a sweet potato hash, and a frosted slice of cake. Drinks include an espresso martini, matcha latte, black coffee, and a cocktail garnished with a dried citrus slice. A colorful checkered booth lines the back of the table.
Culture
Restaurant Roundup: New and coming-soon restaurants in Austin
Dining in ATX is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
October 1, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_2025ACLFriendshipBracelets
Culture
How to win an ATXtoday x Sea of Beads ACL Festival friendship bracelet
We’re giving away friendship bracelets at both weekends of ACL Festival — here’s how you can secure one for yourself.
September 30, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_RockandRecycle
Culture
ACL Festival helps keep Austin green, according to Austin Parks Foundation CEO Colin Wallis
The annual music festival has partnered with the nonprofit for 20 years to help care for Zilker Park’s Great Lawn, divert recycling, and care for all of ATX’s green spaces.
September 29, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_PiverParkVenue
Real Estate
Developers break ground on new live music venue at River Park
The new venue will fit 4,000 people in southeast Austin and is expected to be delivered in early 2027.
September 25, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_WatersParkHistoricalMarker
Culture
Flashback Friday: Learn about the hundreds of historical markers in Austin
Let’s take a deeper dive into some of Austin’s historical markers, the significance they hold, and how long they’ve been standing.
September 25, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
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